Carnegie Mellon University has been a pioneer in developing cars that will drive themselves and communicate with other vehicles and traffic infrastructure to make travel safer and faster. So-called autonomous and connected vehicles will be a major focus of the convention. “We will see automated vehicles on the streets in the next several years,” Mr. Feenstra said. With crashes and congestion costing the nation $1 trillion annually, the cars “will have a huge impact on our communities, our families and out nation as a whole,” he said.